Community Finance VISTA

The City of Jersey City’s Division of Purchasing is committed to increasing equity in city contracting for local minority-and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBE) by implementing results-driven contracting strategies. In partnership with the Harvard Kennedy Schools Government Performance Lab (GPL), the initiative will invest city dollars to improve economic mobility and achieve better outcomes for historically marginalized populations. The VISTA member will examine barriers to entry for doing business with Jersey City for M/WBE vendors looking to secure a public contract with the City of Jersey City. The VISTA will also empower individuals and businesses by providing access to financial resources and support, fostering economic growth and financial well-being for those in need.

Requirements

Full-year VISTAs serve full-time for one year. To qualify, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent GED by the start of your service.
• Have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. (See the AmeriCorps VISTA FAQs for more information on citizenship or residency requirements.)
• Undergo a criminal background check, if your application is accepted.

Program Member Benefits

As a full-year VISTA, you will receive the following:

• A bi-weekly living allowance of $1,037.26 before taxes.
• A settling-in allowance of up to $750 and a relocation travel allowance of $0.40 per mile if you’re relocating more than 50 miles
• A Segal Education Award of $7,395 or an end-of-service award at approximately $1,800

Other benefits include:

• Ten days of personal leave, ten days of sick leave, and (15) site-observed holidays.
• Health benefit plan.
• Loan forbearance or deferment for federal student loans.
• Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) for federal jobs.
• Monthly professional development and team building.
• Valuable work experience and networking with local government and partners.

Find more information on the My AmeriCorps website and Apply here